About

WHO AM I?

My name is Niamh. Now, don’t panic, it is just a name (an Irish one at that), and you pronounce it Knee-uv. I am Irish based in London, a scientist turned food writer via a career in New Media. I started this blog in 2007, and well, that was it.

I travel for much of my time. I adore it. Food & travel brings me much joy. I love to meet people when I travel, learn their recipes, eat in their restaurants and wander their streets. When not wandering, I can be found in my kitchen or in a restaurant, possibly a wine bar too. Ok, often a wine bar, and I love a bit of karaoke action every now and then :)

RECIPES

Most of the recipes are my own, some are shown to me on my travels (if this is the case I say so), occasionally some are from books that I enjoy. If you try them I would love to hear how it goes.

EAT LIKE A GIRL?

I am often asked, why the name Eat Like a Girl? The answer is simple. Why should eating like a girl be a bad thing? Don’t we eat too? Real food, delicious food, food that is packed with flavour?

We do. And that is what I share here. Recipes for food that you will want to cook at home and that will cheer your lunch box and your evenings. Trustworthy restaurant recommendations to help you plan your social outings. I have eaten at hundreds of restaurants since starting this blog. I also write travel stories and recommendations for where you should eat, where you should stay and what you should bring home when you travel. You can read my editorial policy here.

This is my space, and I share it with you, happily. Welcome! Make yourself at home. Shall I put the kettle on?

Cooking Classes & Tours

I am available for hire for private cooking classes and tours. I have developed cooking classes for food brands for the media and the public and I have hosted visiting media on food tours of London for travel brands.

Lets talk! :)

COOKBOOKS

I have written a cookbook (with a stonking 157 recipes in it), which was published in 2011 by Quadrille. It is called Comfort & Spice, and is available in some bookshops and on Amazon. It is only available as a physical book at the moment. People said “the writing is inspired… the food is double inspired… here is a book that has been lived in: it’s funny, smart and real, just like the grub it lovingly describes.” (John & Sally McKenna’s Guides, 2011)

I am working on my second book, Project: BACON, all about bacon sweet / savoury / home curing / drinks.

Niamh Shields is a food writer, and one of the UK’s best known food bloggers. Her blog eatlikeagirl.com is a foodie’s delight, featuring original recipes inspired by her travels and some of her favourites from cook books, with plenty of gratuitous “food porn” photos. Follow Niamh if you’re an aspiring chef, love to cook, or are just a big fan of food (that’ll be us, then).

One of two blogs that were highly commended in the Observer Food Monthly Awards in October 2010.

An overdue mention of Niamh Shields Eat Like a Girl – not that she really needs one: she’s one of the UK’s best known food bloggers and was recently listed by the Times among their 40 bloggers who really count. I’m not sure how she finds time to work as she’s always popping off to have lunch for her new Posh Lunch Club feature, or going to tastings or writing up recipes or running a market stall or masterminding last year’s famous Blaggers’ Banquet but she’s a great girl.

40 Bloggers Who Really Count.The Times, May 1st 2010.

Primarily a cookery blog – if you’re after a recipe for slow-roast wild boar belly, look no further – but lately London-based Shields, who describes the blog as a “monument to pleasure and weight gain”, has been doing a lot of eating out. Recently, she organised a female-only carnivores’ night at Hawksmoor in Spitalfields (“Girl’s Just Wanna Have Steak!”).

Niamh Shields, an Irish ex-pat in London, writes witty and personal recipes for everything from chorizo burgers to Israeli couscous with onion squash, haricot beans and pumpkin seeds. Even her photos of each dish are enough to make the mouth water.

Listed on Time Out’s list of “London’s Best Food Blogs and Websites” in February 2009.

Inspiring recipes from London-based Irish blogger Niamh. There are a few restaurant reviews, but we come for the home cooking – the majority of the recipes are Niamh’s own. If you’re stuck for ideas, check out the post on Israeli couscous with onion squash, haricot beans and pumpkin seeds.

Log on because we’re not the only ones who rate it – ELAG was voted as one of the best food blogs in the world by the Times Online site.